ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned defenseman Jack
Hillen to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) on a long-term
injury/illness exception conditioning loan, vice president and general manager
George McPhee announced today.

Hillen, 28, played in two
games with the Capitals this season before suffering a right tibial plateau fracture on
Oct. 3 against Calgary. The Minnetonka, Minn., native has missed Washington’s
last 57 games due to the injury. Hillen recorded nine points (three goals, six
assists) and 14 penalty minutes in 23 games with the Capitals last season.

The 5’10”, 190-pound
blueliner has collected 65 points (13 goals, 52 assists) and 143 penalty
minutes in 255 career NHL games with the New York Islanders, Nashville and
Washington. Hillen spent four seasons with Colorado College of the WCHA and earned
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, WCHA First All-Star Team and NCAA (West)
First All-American Team honors during his senior season in 2008. He was
originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Islanders on April
1, 2008.